What happened to your New Year’s resolutions?

As the summer draws to an end with Labor Day weekend, most people begin to realize the goals they were eager to accomplish at the beginning of the year are still goals waiting to be put into action. Last week’s topic was on procrastination however this week would like to discuss the value of staying motivated when you feel you are not making as much progress as you had hoped when setting new goals for the year.

The desire to have goals plays an important part of being fulfilled they help you reach your dreams in your career as well as your personal life. The key to making goals is keeping them simple yet defined on what you want to accomplish.

One of the reasons why people see January as a new beginning towards making change in their life only to somehow lose their goals mid-year might be confusing dreams with goals. Goals that are ambiguous with no clear way to accomplish them could be just wishful thinking.

A good example would be the goal of meeting new people in your career field. Every January, one of the goals most often talked about is making new connections by joining professional associations or inviting a new person to lunch every month. The desire to make new contacts is real; however, as time moves on, making the effort to send an invitation for lunch gets lost in a sea of good intentions. Desires with no timelines or real dates to measure progress are dreams disguised as goals.

The problem with unmet goals is that they lead to feelings of disappointment and once your motivation wanes, it can be difficult to stay on track. The good news is you don’t have to abandon your goals rather define them in a clear way. You can start over by choosing a goal that is measurable and specific. When you reflect on what you would like to accomplish before the year ends, think in terms of details in what it would take to reach your goals.

Staying motivated is easier when you have one or two goals to focus on rather than a dozen small ones at the same time. Breaking your goals into mini steps helps you see progress that leads to more enthusiasm.

Here are some quick tips to help you stay motivated:

Get your friends involved, the more people you tell about your goals, the more accountable you become and the positive pressure helps you stay on track.

Chart your progress. When a friend was training for a marathon, they kept a journal of the miles ran per day and recorded their times. At the end of every week, they would review their progress and added different workouts each week to achieve their goals of running faster.

Use apps or technology to keep you motivated by sending reminders of your commitment. Leave yourself messages of encouragement or wallpaper your phone with affirmations. Do whatever it takes to help remind yourself that your goal is important and worthwhile.

Reward yourself for your accomplishments along the way. Have a nice dinner, go out with friends and celebrate your results each step of the way. When you recognize your results, it helps you stay motivated and gives you a reason to keep moving forward.

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? What helps you stay motivated in keeping your goals?